Amherst Boys & Girls Club Summer 2019 Programs

The Board of Directors of the Amherst Boys & Girls Club is pleased to announce a new summer program for 2019.  The Program will run for eight weeks beginning June 24th and end on August 16th.

The Program is open to all children ages 8 to 14.  The Program will run Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Registration for the summer program will be held at the Club, 29 A Cottage Street, Amherst and begin on Thursday, May 23rd.  All children must be registered to attend the program. We are accepting the first 75 children to sign up.

Children must be members of the Amherst Boys & Girls Club to attend.  Children can become members or renew their memberships at registration.  Membership is $50.00 a year.

The summer program will offer a wide variety of recreational, educational and cultural activities for the participants as well as to provide experiences which will give opportunities for individual achievement, development of self confidence, reinforcement of values and fun.  Programs will include physical education, arts & crafts, games, sports, health and life skills, education, special events, and summer reading. 

Fees:  1^st Child $75, 2^nd Child $60, and 3^rd Child $50 per week.

Scholarships are available

For additional information please email Tony at the Club, tpoti@amhersbgc.org

Not a school sponsored event

Tonight - Latino Achievement Night

ARMS PGO Grants Awarded for 2018-2019

The ARMS PGO is happy to support the great work of our teachers and staff.  This year, with your support of PGO, we were able to support the following:

Artist/Scholar-in-Residence Awards

Alicia Lopez and Evelyn Melendez (Spanish teachers): $500 for the visit of Criollo Clasico, a Latin music band.  Both grades participated.

Heather Sullivan-Flynn (8^th English): $500 for the visit of Shakespeare & Company’s traveling company, The Taming of the Shrew.  All 8^th graders participated.

Michael Lawrence-Riddell (8^th grade English): $500 towards copies of the book, Hey Kiddo, in conjunction with a visit from author Jarrett Krosoczka.

Claire Cocco (8^th grade Social Studies): $100 towards the visit of a Vietnam War veteran on Veteran’s Day. All 8^th graders participated.

Heather Sullivan-Flynn (8^th English): $300 towards the visit of An Na, author of A Step From Heaven. All 8^th graders will participate.

Mini-Grants

Kerrita Mayfield (7^th grade Science): $250 towards a field trip to the pollinator plant nursery, Wing & a Prayer (Cummington, MA).

Kara Nye (Performing Arts): $250 towards the purchase of 2 djembes (drums) to be used with the drum circle/world percussion class.

Jodi Stevens (7^th grade Science): $250 towards a field trip to CT Science Center.

Amherst Boys & Girls Club Community Cookout

Not a school sponsored event

Student vs. Staff Volleyball Fundraiser

The student vs. staff volleyball fundraiser event was a great success thanks to all the students, staff and families that came out to support our cause. We’d like to thank all the local business donors that helped with food and raffle donations for the event, including AJ Hastings, Henion Bakery, The Works, North Hadley Sugar Shack, Pita Pockets, Big Y, and Bruno’s. In the end, the team of teachers were victorious!

We are very close to our goal for fundraising for the water bottle filler and reusable water bottles for ARMS! Please consider making a donation if you have not yet on our GoFundMe page at: 

https://www.gofundme.com/arms-plastic-bottle-ban

Check out our recent Gazette article and a picture of our champs!

https://www.gazettenet.com/Amherst-Education-Column-25107353

Vaping Workshops for Parents

Dear Parents/Guardians of ARMS Students,
Many schools across the country, including our own, have seen an increase in the use of e-cigarettes among middle and high school students. In September 2018 the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Commissioner Riley and the MA Department of Health’s Commissioner Bharel issued a joint letter to school administrators urging them to equip staff with various resources to combat the rising epidemic. 
Vaping is the act of inhaling vapor produced by an electronic vaporizer or e-cigarette. The casing can come in any shape or size, but one of the most popular forms is the Juul, which appears much like a flash drive and can easily be concealed.  The liquids vaporized are marketed to our youth with different flavors such as cotton candy, bubble gum, and lemonade, giving the appearance that this is a harmless smoking option with limited risks but this is far from the truth. These products contain nicotine and are not only addictive but dangerous.
Earlier this year teachers received training on this topic from Melinda Calianos the Director at Hampshire Franklin Tobacco-Free Community Partnership. Students will receive the “Catch My Breath” curriculum endorsed by same organization before the year’s end. We also recognize this is new territory for many of you as parents. Therefore, we are offering two separate evening sessions with Melinda Calianos during the month of May:

• Wednesday, May 1st, 6:30-7:30 @ ARMS Auditorium
• Tuesday, May 14th, 6:30-7:30 @ ARMS Auditorium 

We hope you are able to attend one of these events. We have also included some free resources to help families better understand this growing public health concern.  
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
Sincerely,
Joseph Smith, Interim Co-Principal and Rebecca Sweetman, Interim Co-Principal 

Tips for Talking with your Kids about Vaping.pdf ​​​​​​​

Vaping FAQ.pdf 

The New Look of Nicotine Addiction.pdf 

Starlight's Youth Theatre presents: Newsies

NEWSIES 

A Disney Musical 

performed by Starlight's Youth Theatre

Now is the time to Seize the Day!  

Friday May 10, 7pm and Saturday May 11, 1pm and 7pm 

at the Academy of Music in Northampton. 

Newsies features performances by over 50 students from all over the Valley from Starlight’s Youth Theatre, which was established 10 years ago as a non-profit youth theater in the Valley. Artistic Director Cynthia Strycharz states “ I hope as the director of this powerful story this amazing cast will always remember that they can also be a leader and change history for the better!”  https://www.aomtheatre.com/

Not a school sponsored event